The first phase of the MTerra solar project in the Philippines, which will become the world’s largest solar-plus-storage site upon completion, has achieved initial synchronization and energization with the Luzon grid. Project developers expect the project to start exporting power by the end of the month.
The initial grid synchronization and ratification of the first phase of the MTerra Solar project the Philippines has been completed.
The MTerra solar project includes a planned 3.5 GW solar and 4.5 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) to be built on the island of Luzon, which upon completion will become the largest integrated solar-plus-BESS facility in the world. It will be implemented in two phases, the first of which is expected to cover approximately 2.5 GW of solar energy, in addition to 3.3 MWh of BESS.
An initial power-up of the project on the Luzon grid, which took place late last week, has confirmed the readiness of the system and a secure connection, according to an update shared by Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN). National Grid Corporation of the Philippines head of transmission planning Redi Allan Remoroza called the milestone “an important step in establishing the transmission interface for one of the country’s most important clean energy projects.”
Philippine Department of Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevara explained that the initial power-on will begin the ratification process that will enable MTerra Solar to export power to the grid. “Once the synchronization is completed, the plant can start delivering robust and reliable capacity through the combination of solar energy and battery energy storage, another first for the country,” Guevara said.
The project now aims to have 250 MWac of solar capacity and 112.5 MWh of battery energy storage capacity ready for use by the end of this month, including the export of 85 MW of constant power to the grid. “This is in preparation for an expansion of capacity in the coming months,” the MGEN statement said. “All of these developments are being completed in less than 15 months since groundbreaking.”
According to the project’s most recent update, 1,288 MW of solar power had been installed by the end of January, already making MTerra Solar the largest PV installation in the Philippines. By the end of last month, a total of 622 BESS units had also been installed.
Full completion of the first phase of the project is scheduled for later this year. Work completed to date also includes energizing and energizing a 500 kV substation along the Nagsaag-San Jose 500 kV Line 2, after the Energy Regulatory Commission of the Philippines cleared the project to develop its own dedicated transmission facilities and connect to the Luzon grid in October.
According to MGEN’s update, work on phase two of the project has also begun, marked by the project’s first pile installation.
Last week, the Philippines announced plans to launch an auction 25 GW of renewable energy sources by 2035.
This content is copyrighted and may not be reused. If you would like to collaborate with us and reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
